Around the World Roundup: 'Bourne' Returns to the Top

Last weekend's foreign leader Shrek the Third tumbled a steep 55 percent this weekend, and The Bourne Ultimatum reclaimed the top spot. The action thriller garnered $15.8 million from 38 markets for a $98.2 million total and looked good in its openings. In Germany, it started with $4.6 million, topping predecessor The Bourne Supremacy by 24 percent, and did just as well in Austria ($772,608 from 122 screens) and Poland ($357,852 from 57). Bourne beat out Stardust in a head-to-head duel in Mexico, nabbing $1.4 million, while its holdover markets were solid, including Australia (38 percent drop) and Brazil (25 percent drop).

In second for the weekend, Ratatouille collected $9.1 million for a $201.5 million total. The animated comedy led France again with $2.2 million from 720 screens for a $54.6 million total. It also opened atop Romania with an excellent $71,971 from 9 screens.

With the widest release ever for a local picture, Hero (2007) reigned in Japan with a fantastic $8.7 million from 475 screens, which was enough to rank third internationally. It was the biggest opening of the year for a local movie and the distributor, Toho, expects it to exceed $100 million by the end of its run.

In fourth place, Shrek the Third grossed $8 million from 21 markets for a $451 million total, jeopardizing its chances of topping Shrek 2, which grossed $478.6 million in a time of less favorable currency exchange rates. The animated comedy didn't hold like a family movie in its second weekend markets, falling 51 percent in Italy to $4.3 million and 43 percent in Norway to $831,127.

Continuing it strong box office run, Rush Hour 3 placed fifth, yielding $5.1 million from 27 markets for a $62.6 million total. The action comedy has made money from nearly every corner of the globe, despite a lack of high-profile openings. From the United Kingdom's $20.4 million to Singapore's $2.4 million to the United Arab Emirates' $1.3 million, Rush Hour 3 has posted solid showings.

Ranking sixth, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry earned $4.7 million over the weekend thanks to the addition of nine markets and pushed its total to $14.6 million. Chuck lead Adam Sandler's biggest hit overseas was Click ($100.3 million) and his movies rarely see more than $50 million internationally. Chuck and Larry continues that trend with soft openings in Italy ($672,129 from 161 screens) and South Korea ($316,431 from 100 screens). The picture has floundered outside the English-speaking territories, with the exception of Russia, where it debuted to $1.3 million from 331 screens.

In the U.K., comedy Run, Fat Boy, Run and drama Atonement opened head-to-head and Run, featuring Hot Fuzz's Simon Pegg, won with $4.1 million 413 screens. Atonement was a slight disappointment with $3.2 million from 411 screens. The drama was a reunion of Pride and Prejudice star Keira Knightley and director Joe Wright, and that picture opened to $4.6 million back in 2005. Domestically, Run, Fat Boy, Run opens Oct. 26 and Atonement debuts Dec. 7.